The Manumatic transmission is an automatic transmission that allows the driver to control gear selections even though it is an automatic gear box. Now true, all automatics allow the drive to control the gears, but the Manumatic took it a step further by adding a steering wheel mounted paddle shifter or a modified shift lever for better operation. The term Manumatic comes, of course, from combining the words manual and automatic, and it has appeared in many, many cars over the years under different names which include the Tiptronic, Geartronic, Touchshift, and Sportronic.
These are also known as “two-pedal transmissions” and they basically relieve the driver of the need for skill in operating a clutch. In the Manumatic, a clutch servo powered by a vacuum in the induction manifold operates the automatic clutch. Some of the designations are as follows:
Acura: Sequential SportShift
Audi: Tiptronic
BMW: Steptronic
Chevolet: TAPshift
Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram: AutoStick
Ford: SelectShift
Honda: MultiMatic, sportShift
Infiniti: Manual Shift Mode
Jaguar: Bosch Mechatronic
Kia: Sportmatic
Lexus: E-Shift
Mazda: ActiveMatic
And on and on we go. One variation of this transmission is the Tiptronic, which is a registered trademark owned by Porsche, and it is used in the Volkswagen Group of cars as well. A tiptronic transmission allows the driver to override the conventional automatic transmission. By moving the gear lever into a second operating plane which is equipped with two spring-loaded positions, upshift and downshift, the driver takes over most of the gear shifting. Still, the tiptronic has a torque converter just like conventional automatic transmission.
You will see the Tiptronic or a variable called the Tiptronic S in many luxury vehicles and it has two fully automatic modes: the primary mode labeled “drive” and the other labeled “sport” which delays upshifts higher up the engine rev range for sportier driving. They also use an electronic control unit (ECU) which is sometimes referred to as the transmission control unit.
Now most of this may not mean much to the average driver, but to those who love transmission technology this is manna from heaven. We at PDQ transmission parts eat this stuff up as we try to stay in touch with all the latest technology. This is, after all, our business, providing the best service possible on transmissions and providing the best transmission parts.
Turn to the pros at PDQ Transmission Parts for all of your transmission and transmission parts needs.
